Every now and then, when I am dragging my tired bones to bed having just watched a movie that was on much too late for me to watch the whole thing, I find myself saying, “Boy, I wish I had seen that in the theater.”

Maybe it’s just me. But there are movies that I feel would have been better experienced on the big screen.

This also works in reverse. There have been times that I left the theater thinking, “Who do I contact about getting those two hours back?” And there have been times I have dragged my bones to bed thinking “I sure am glad I didn’t buy a ticket for that cinematic disaster.”

So on that note, I have a list of “Five Movies I Wish I Had Seen In The Theater.” These are in no particular order, so don’t assume what occupies spot number one is the one I most wish I had seen in the theater. Also, some of these I never could have seen in the theater since they came out before I was born, but just bear with me.

Five Movies I Wish I Had Seen in the Theater

8 Mile

Nichole and I thought about seeing this when it came out, but I was not really interested in watching a movie starring a hip-hop artist whose CD I wouldn’t even buy. That was a mistake. I caught this on FX a few weeks ago and was really impressed. I would have liked to see the dilapidation of Detroit and the final rap battle on the big screen

Blade Runner

This is by far one my favorite movies of all time, but I was just a wee lad when it came out. I had some “Blade Runner” Hot Wheels to play with when it was first released (one of which I still have) but I was probably 8 or 9 before I finally saw the movie. I can’t imagine how fantastic the whole vision would look in a theater, particularly the last 15 minutes.

Donnie Darko

I remember reading amazing reviews of this when it came out, but for some reason we decided against seeing it in the theater. Mistake. What an amazing film, and perhaps the best use a Tears For Fears song — first scene of the high school, panning from person to person while “Head Over Heels” overlays the action. That alone would have been a pleasure to see in the theater

Vanishing Point

I first saw this movie on TBS about 18 years ago. It was one of those late night/early morning viewings on a Friday night. I remember sitting there watching it; I hadn’t even checked the TV guide to see what it was. I just caught it as it was starting and had no idea what it even was until it ended. And man, what an ending. In my opinion, one of the best ever. And that car: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. I think I laughed out loud at the theater when I saw “Death Proof” because of the references to the car. “Vanishing Point” hits the same pleasure point as last year’s “Drive,” which leads me to the next one on my list.

Drive

The elevator scene; the fork scene; the entire first five minutes; the soundtrack. I love this movie, and someday when a theater near me shows it as a late night special viewing I will be there to watch it.